Automatic check-lock.



Patented Sept. l6, I902. 1

n. w. nEms0N. AUTOMATIG CHECK LOCK.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1901.)

(No Model.)

PEYERS cu, FHOYO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON n c Nrrnn drarns HUGH W. DENISON,

rrrcri.

ATENT TO JONAS S. HERSHBERGER, OF GRANTSVILLE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC CHECK-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,141, dated September 16, 1902. Application filed November 26, 1901. Serial No. 83.780. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH W. DENISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glade, in the county of Somerset and State of Penn- 5 sylvania, have invented a new and useful Automatic Check-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic check-lock for mining-cars, whereby a check I is locked against removal after a partial load has been placed in the car.

The object of this invention is to provide a check-holder for containing an identifyingcheck which cannot be surreptitiously or 1 fraudulently removed, which is only unlocked or released when the load is removed from the car, and one in which the check is placed on the outside and is always visible, so that a miner upon returning to the mine after havzo ing left a filled or partially-filled car can tell by a glance whether his check has been tampered with or not.

The usual custom in mining is to supply each miner when starting to work with a num- 2 5 her of checks bearing numbers or designating characters different from those of the checks furnished other miners, and the numbers of these checks are placed, with the name of the miner, on the books of the office, and each car or partial car of mined material bearing these designating-checks is credited to the miner. In the devices ordinarily in use it is very easy for a dishonest miner to remove the check from a filled or nearly-filled car of one 3 5 of his coworkers and place his own check thereon, and it is to avoid this practice that the present invention is made.

Figure1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation of a mining-car having one side of its front end broken away to show this improved automatic check-locking device. Fig. 2 represents a similar view thereof, showing the car in tipped position for unloading it and the locking device swing- 5 ing outward under the tipping movement of the car, thereby releasing the check-holder. Fig. 3 represents a perspective View of this improved check-lock detached from the car. Fig. i is a View illustrating a form of check or other identifying device which may be employed.

The same reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The device embodying this invention consists of a vertical bar 10, having the upper end thereof extended through an opening 101 in the car 100 and bent on itself to form an attaching-loop 11 for securing it to the carbody. This bar is then again bent to form a hook 15 for receiving a check, as 20. A rod 30 extends through the loop 11 and. is secured to the outside of the car in any desired man ner. The bar so pivoted is free to swing on said rod 30 when the car is empty. A loadengaging device, preferably in the form of a flat bar 40, is attached to the lower end of the vertical bar 10 and is adapted to rest on the bottom of the car.

When the car is in its normal position, the vertical bar 10 swings down and closes the checkbook 15 on the front end thereof closely against the end of the car. As shown, the car is provided with a recess 102, into which the free end of the hook is adapted to tit and which renders the lock safer should any one try to pry open this hook.

In the use of this improved check-lock after it has been adjusted on the car the hook 15 is swung down by hand, the check 20 placed thereon, and the hook again closes under the action of the vertical bar and its bar 40, which tend to swing downward and close the book. The miner then proceeds to load his car, and the first material placed therein serves to hold. the bar 40 down against the bottom of the car, and thereby locks the check-holder in the recess 102 in the end of the car. He may then safely leave his work without fear of his check being removed and another put in its place. Upon his return to work he can ascer- 9o tain at a glance whether his check has been tampered with, as it is exposed to view and an exchange thereof could readily be seen.

When the car is sent up to the weightman, he credits the miner whose name appears on the books opposite the check character contained on the car, and the car may then be unloaded. When it has been placed on the tilting track and the load dumped therefrom,- the bar 40 is released and under the tilting action swings outward, thereby opening the check-holder for the removal of the check.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a containing ves sel, of a pivoted holder for supporting a check on the exterior of the vessel, said holder extending within the interior of said vessel and being held in check-locking position by engagement with the contents of the vessel.

2. The combination with a containing vessel, of a check-holder extending through a wall of the vessel, that portion of the checkholder on the exterior of the vessel forming a check-receiving hook, and that portion of the holder on the interior of the vessel being engaged by the contents of the vessel and maintained in check-locking position by the weight and pressure of such contents.

3. The combination with a containing vessel, of an automatic check-holder comprising a weighted hook pivotally connected to said vessel and adapted to be held in looking position by gravity when the vessel is level, and to move by gravity to unlocking position when the vessel is tilted.

4. A check-lock for a mine-car, comprising a pivoted check-holding device extending through the body of the car and having an exteriorly-disposed check-holding hook, the bill of which is adapted to partly enter a recess in the car-body, the inner portion of said check-lock being engaged and held in checklocking position by the contents of the car.

5. A check-lock for mine-cars, comprising a bar adapted to extend through an opening in the car-body, means disposed at the lower end of said bar adapted to be engaged by the material placed in the car, means for pivotally securing said bar to the car-body, and a checkholder attached to the outer end of said bar adapted to close when the car is in normal position, and to open when the car is tilted.

6. An automatic check-lock for mine-cars, comprising a bar having a secondary bar rigidly secured to the lower end thereof at right angles thereto, means connected with the upper end of said bar for pivotally attaching it to a car-body, and a check-holding hook arranged on the upper outer end of said bar and adapted to be forced against the side of the car by the weight and pressure of the contents of the car.

7. An automatic check-lock for mine-cars, comprisinga bar bent at its upper end to form a lateral arm, a loop formed on said arm, a rod adapted to extend through said loop and pivotally secure it to the car-body, a checkholder connected with said loop and adapted to close tightly against the car-body, and means connected with said bar whereby the check-holder is normally held closed.

8. An automatic check-lock, comprising a bar bent at its upper end to form an arm, a loop on said arm, means adapted to extend through said loop and secure it to the car body, and a transverse bar attached to the lower end of said bent bar adapted to be engaged by the material placed in the car and thereby lock the check-holder to prevent opening after loading of the car has begun.

9. An automatic check-lock for mine-oars, comprising a pivotally-mounted Verticallydisposed bar bent at its upper end to form a loop, said bar being again bent outward to form a hook, and a transverse bar connected to the lower end of said vertical bar against which the material placed in the car abuts.

10. An automatic check-lock, comprising a bar adapted to be pivotally connected to a carbody, a check-holder on one end thereof, and means connected with the other end thereof for automatically closing said holder when the car is in normal position and for opening it when the car is tilted.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HUGH W. DENISON.

Witnesses:

S. P. TEDROW, J. W. HANNA. 

